Mengeche Derso

Back in 2012, at the heart of Gedeo in Yirgacheffe, all coffee trade passed through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) or established cooperatives. Smallholder farmers had no way to remain traceable in the supply chain. Their farms’ unique terroir and the distinctive character of their coffees were lost the moment they entered the system.

Jason Long, a passionate coffee exporter, was searching for a way to change that. By establishing direct trade relationships with cooperatives — bypassing the ECX — he helped export some of the first single-farmer coffees from Ethiopia. These lots weren’t blended with others. For the first time, a farmer’s name and the unique identity of their coffee could be preserved and shared with the world.

By 2017, the Ethiopian government began to recognize the value of this model. Thanks to the groundwork laid by early efforts like Jason’s, reforms were introduced to support traceable, quality-focused exports. The result was what we now call the Single Farmer Project — a system where coffee contracts require the farmer’s name, and pricing is agreed directly with the producer.

Without this progress, we would never have come accross Mr. Mengecha Derso — the farmer behind this stunning, naturally processed lot. Grown across 15 hectares of volcanic soil and nurtured with organic fertilizers like animal manure and composted plant matter, Mengesha’s coffee is a true family effort, cultivated alongside four of his children.

In the cup, this heirloom varietal blend is as clean and elegant as some of the best washed coffees we’ve tasted, with crystal-clear notes of jasmine, lemon candy, and ripe apricot.